Govt lifts ban on Hindraf

G Vinod | January 26, 2013

The Registrar of Societies, on the instruction of the home minister, lifted the ban via a letter yesterday.

PETALING JAYA: The government has extended an olive branch to Hindraf on the eve of Thaipusam by lifting its four-year ban on the non-governmental organisation.

The matter was made known to Hindraf chairman P Waythamoorthy via letter dated yesterday, signed by the Registrar of Societies’ (ROS) Societies Management Unit’s Dasmond Das Michael Das.

The letter stated that Home Minister (Hishammuddin Hussein) had decided to lift the ban imposed on Oct 14, 2008, under Clause 5 of the Societies Act 1966.

The particular clause allows the home minister absolute discretion to ban any organisation in the interest of national security and public order.

On Nov 25, 2007, Hindraf mobilised tens of thousands of Indians to protest against the marginalisation of the community since Merdeka.

The then Abdullah Ahmad Badawi led-government ordered a crackdown on the protest and arrested five of the key Hindraf leaders under the Internal Security Act.

The Indian community, being long-time Barisan Nasional supporters, delivered protest votes to Pakatan which saw the ruling coalition losing its customary two thirds majority and five states to the opposition pact.

Asked to comment on removal of the ban, Hindraf adviser N Ganesan (photo) said: “We will have a meeting after Thaipusam before giving an official statement.”